Sengekontacket Pond closed to shellfishing

Sengekontacket Pond is closed to shellfishing for the week, according to a text alert from the town of Edgartown.

The pond is scheduled to reopen Friday, August 10, at dawn. The closure is due to runoff from recent rainfall, according to the alert.

Under an agreement with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), shellfish wardens are required to close the pond to shellfishing in July when rainfall exceeds 0.2 inches. In August, the standard is more lenient: The pond must be closed when rainfall exceeds one inch. In each case, the pond must remain closed to shellfishing for a minimum of five days.

Information about Sengekontacket closings and reopenings is available on the Oak Bluffs web site, by calling the Oak Bluffs Shellfish Department at 508-693-0072, or the Edgartown Shellfish Department at 508-627-7570.

When the small red flag is flying at either Little Bridge or Big Bridge, the pond is closed to shellfishing.

Lagoon Pond is open for quahogs and soft-shell clams. Oak Bluffs Harbor is closed for shellfishing.